AgTech solutions company Autogrow and Plant & Food Research today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) confirming their intention to collaborate in the development of protocols to maximize yield and enable continuous production of perennial fruits.
The agreement was signed by Autogrow CEO Darryn Keiller and Dr Kieran Elborough, General Manager Science – New Cultivar Innovation for Plant & Food Research.
“We are incredibly excited to be working with Plant & Food Research and see collaborations like this as fundamental to furthering our industry, ultimately benefiting both growers and consumers. Plant & Food Research are responsible for some of the best cultivars to come onto the global market and their science expertise combined with our knowledge of controlled environment agriculture will take perennial fruits to the next level,” said Mr. Keiller.
Autogrow’s Director of Plant Science and Agronomy Dr. Tharindu Weeraratne will head up Autogrow’s team as part of the MoU.
Speaking at the signing, Dr. Elborough said, “Working with a global company like Autogrow has the potential for us to match new breeding strategies with future growing systems that deal with numerous horticultural challenges such as climate change, sustainable food production and reducing land availability.”
About Autogrow
Autogrow leverages the power of technology, data science and plant biology to provide indoor growers affordable, accessible and easy-to-use innovation – 24/7, anywhere in the world.
Our hardware, software and data solutions support growers and resellers in over 40 countries producing over 100 different crop types.
We have over two decades of experience and passionate, fun people creating original ideas and making them a reality.
About Plant & Food Research
Plant & Food Research is a New Zealand-based company providing research and development to enhance the value and productivity of the horticultural, viticultural, arable, seafood and food and beverage industries. With more than 900 people based at sites across New Zealand, as well as in the USA and Australia, at the heart of the Institute is a goal to support the growth of plant and marine-based food industries through the successful application and commercialisation of research-based innovation.
Our science supports the sustainable production of high quality produce that earns a premium in international markets, as well as driving the design and development of new and novel functional foods that offer benefits to human health and wellbeing.
In its 90 year history, Plant & Food Research has bred a range of new fruit, vegetable and arable cultivars that are now marketed globally, including Jazz™ and Envy™ brand apples, Zespri® Sungold Kiwifruit and Moonlight potatoes.